Who says Shakespeare always has to be stuffy?

Published: Sunday, July 28, 2013 at 5:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, July 26, 2013 at 9:52 a.m.

The irreverent comedy "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" opens Thursday at Playhouse Downtown, 125 S. Main St., Hendersonville.

The production stars Scott Treadway, Andrew Livingston and Willie Repoley. Treadway was recently seen in the critical and box office hit "The Big Bang" at Playhouse Downtown.

For almost 30 years, Treadway has been a fixture with the Playhouse and Western North Carolina. He is best remembered for his roles in "Gilligan's Island the Musical," "Look Homeward Angel," the Tuna shows, "Anything Goes," "The 39 Steps" and "The Drowsy Chaperone."

In addition to acting and directing, Treadway has served the Playhouse as development director and associate artistic director and is well known in the community for his relationship with educators and students.

Livingston started his performing career at age 10 in the Flat Rock Playhouse YouTheatre program. He stayed with the program while growing up and is now a professional actor. He has performed with North Carolina Stage Company in Asheville and is co-artistic director at Ensemble Theatre Company. Livingston was seen recently in "Red" and "Proof" at Flat Rock Playhouse.

"The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" embodies one of comedy's most essential impulses: the adolescent urge to take a baseball bat to the culturally revered. Three actors take the audience on an irreverent, yet surprisingly comprehensive, romp through all 37 of Shakespeare's plays (plus a sonnet or two). The play is a mix of pratfalls, puns, willful misreading of names and dialogue, clunky female impersonations, clean-cut ribaldry and broad burlesque.

The play was written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield, former founding members of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, and first performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1987. It later played at the Criterion Theatre in London, where it ran for nine record-breaking years. It has become one of the world's most popular shows, playing frequently in a variety of languages. It is notable for holding the (self-proclaimed) world record for the shortest-ever performance of "Hamlet," clocking in at 43 seconds, as well as the fastest performance of "Hamlet" backwards, at 42 seconds.

"The Complete Works of Williams Shakespeare (Abridged)" is directed by Lisa Bryant. Bryant was recently appointed associate artistic director at Flat Rock Playhouse and returned after her time as a drama instructor at North Henderson High School.

Performances are sponsored by Boy Arnold & Company Wealth Management.

"The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" runs through Aug. 18. Performances are 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. All tickets are $35 and can be purchased by calling the Playhouse box office at 828-693-0731, 866-732-8008 or online at www. flatrockplayhouse.org.

<p>The irreverent comedy "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" opens Thursday at Playhouse Downtown, 125 S. Main St., Hendersonville. </p><p>The production stars Scott Treadway, Andrew Livingston and Willie Repoley. Treadway was recently seen in the critical and box office hit "The Big Bang" at Playhouse Downtown. </p><p>For almost 30 years, Treadway has been a fixture with the Playhouse and Western North Carolina. He is best remembered for his roles in "Gilligan's Island the Musical," "Look Homeward Angel," the Tuna shows, "Anything Goes," "The 39 Steps" and "The Drowsy Chaperone."</p><p>In addition to acting and directing, Treadway has served the Playhouse as development director and associate artistic director and is well known in the community for his relationship with educators and students.</p><p>Livingston started his performing career at age 10 in the Flat Rock Playhouse YouTheatre program. He stayed with the program while growing up and is now a professional actor. He has performed with North Carolina Stage Company in Asheville and is co-artistic director at Ensemble Theatre Company. Livingston was seen recently in "Red" and "Proof" at Flat Rock Playhouse. </p><p>"The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" embodies one of comedy's most essential impulses: the adolescent urge to take a baseball bat to the culturally revered. Three actors take the audience on an irreverent, yet surprisingly comprehensive, romp through all 37 of Shakespeare's plays (plus a sonnet or two). The play is a mix of pratfalls, puns, willful misreading of names and dialogue, clunky female impersonations, clean-cut ribaldry and broad burlesque.</p><p>The play was written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield, former founding members of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, and first performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1987. It later played at the Criterion Theatre in London, where it ran for nine record-breaking years. It has become one of the world's most popular shows, playing frequently in a variety of languages. It is notable for holding the (self-proclaimed) world record for the shortest-ever performance of "Hamlet," clocking in at 43 seconds, as well as the fastest performance of "Hamlet" backwards, at 42 seconds.</p><p>"The Complete Works of Williams Shakespeare (Abridged)" is directed by Lisa Bryant. Bryant was recently appointed associate artistic director at Flat Rock Playhouse and returned after her time as a drama instructor at North Henderson High School. </p><p>Performances are sponsored by Boy Arnold & Company Wealth Management.</p><p>"The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" runs through Aug. 18. Performances are 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. All tickets are $35 and can be purchased by calling the Playhouse box office at 828-693-0731, 866-732-8008 or online at www. flatrockplayhouse.org.</p>